A few yards away from the pond, in the early morning. No one was awake, except for one. A doe was laying in a bed of violet flowers. She was in labor, laying there panting and crying out softly. The sun had just started to break over the horizon. Dull streams of pink light were piercing through the trees.

Hours had passed, and finally a new fawn was brought to the forest. The mother lay there for a few minutes, then got up. The fawn was asleep. She looked at it, so small and helpless. Surely it would need parenting. Tears flowed from her eyes, it ripped her heart to shreds. She called out loudly in all directions, hoping someone would hear. She looked back one more time, trying not to think of the worst. She turned around, and ran as fast as she could away from the fawn.

***

It was later in the morning, and more deer were waking. An old stag by the name of Siki was wandering through the cool morning air. Siki rubbed against a tree and pricked his ears. What was that? he thought. He listened closely, and he heard a small cry. It was very faint, but he knew what it was. It was a cry for help. Siki ran quickly over to where he heard the cry.

He soon came upon a small patch of flowers. A newborn fawn was laying in the middle, squinting its eyes and crying out for its mother. Siki looked around. There wasn't a doe to be found. A lump came up in his throat as he looked at the poor thing. No mother to help it through childhood. No mother to teach it or nurture it. It was all alone. Siki went over to the fawn and nuzzled it, calming it down.

"You poor thing." He whispered as the fawn rubbed against his face. "You're all alone aren't you? Well don't worry, I'm here. I'll take care of you." He smiled, "I've always wanted a little fawn of my own. It seems the gods are looking out for both of us."

Siki urged the fawn to get up. It slowly but surely climbed up on its legs and stood up as best it could. Then it tried to walk, which it got down pretty easily. Siki took the fawn back to his favorite sleeping area. It was in the Playground, a flat slab that had one end propped up on another rock to make a small shelter. The fawn fell back on its stomach and went back to sleep.

Siki soon found out that the fawn was a male. He smiled, "A little boy... I have a little boy. I think I'll call you... Skokey." He nuzzled the fawn again, but didn't go back to sleep. Even though he was very awake and very hungry, he didn't want to leave Skokey's side. He didn't want to leave him alone again.


( I know it's short, but it's the prologue. Hopefully the chapters will be longer ^^; )